Boy, 4, drives to shop

A boy of four drove his mother's car on a late-night trip to a video shop.

Although not tall enough to reach the accelerator, he knew how to engage the automatic gearbox. The idling engine took him slowly to the store, 400 yards from his home in Sand Lake, Michigan.

It was 1.30am and the shop was closed, so the boy began driving home. Weaving about and with its headlights off, the car attracted police patrolman Sgt Jay Osga, who followed the apparently driverless vehicle.

It then turned towards the boy's block of flats and hit two parked cars. When Sgt Osga switched on his police lights, the boy reversed into his car.

A shocked Sgt Osga then discovered who was driving.

The mother said she taught him how to drive sitting on her lap. No charges will be brought against the unnamed boy or his mother.